In this Book

buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary
This book explores the changing land relations in the peri-urban villages of Blantyre in Malawi. It questions and debates how and why the peri-urban villages have become the locus of the selling and buying of customary land, the practices and also the relations involved. The book provides rich ethnographic insights on the commodification of land relations, custom, practices, disputes and social relations between land sellers, land buyers, traditional leaders, and intermediaries. The transactions draw strength from the growing peri-urbanization and monetization of social relations, both of which push towards land decisions at family and individual levels. Bigger groups like the village, clan or extended family have minimal, if not symbolic role only. Village headmen benefit materially by taking gifts (signing fee) rationalized by custom on reciprocity, while estate agents claim commission. Numerous constraints are negotiated about the ownership, rights to sale, multiple selling and the use and sharing of land money. Peri-urban land transactions offer scope for examining a wider range of social and economic relations, and the subtle ways in which the state infiltrates the everyday lives of actors. Overtime, the practices reproduce but also transform land relations in significant but less appreciated ways.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title page
  2. p. 2
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Copyright page
  2. p. 3
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Dedication
  2. pp. 4-5
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Abstract
  2. pp. i-ii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. iii-vi
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Acknowledgements
  2. pp. vii-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. List of tables / Figures
  2. pp. ix-x
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Acronyms and abbreviations/Note on Malawi’s currency
  2. pp. x-xii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Glossary
  2. pp. xiii-xiv
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter One - Introduction
  2. pp. 1-40
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Two - The Researcher as Participant: Method, Theory and Limitations
  2. pp. 41-68
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Three - Locating the peri-urban: the socio-cultural and livelihoods context
  2. pp. 69-106
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Four - Commodification and objectification of peri-urban Land
  2. pp. 107-154
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Five - Practices and legitimation in pPeri-urban land Transactions
  2. pp. 155-212
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Six - Peri-urban Land Disputes and Dispute Resolution
  2. pp. 213-262
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Seven - Intermediaries in peri-urban Land Transactions
  2. pp. 263-310
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Eight - Intentionality and implications of selling peri-urban land
  2. pp. 311-360
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Chapter Nine - Epilogue on peri-urban land transactions
  2. pp. 361-372
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 373-404
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Back Cover
  2. p. 425
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.